The Finnish sauna is the capital of the world, both because it was invented there and because we live as part of the Finnish lifestyle. Think of the Finnish sauna in the same way that other cultures think of meditation, massages, baths in thermal waters or any other tradition of body and mind relaxation.
The sauna is practically the national pastime in Finland, and the per capita number of steam saunas in the nation is surprising to many visitors from other countries. According to some estimates, there are over two million saunas in Finland, with a total population of around five million. Finnish saunas are practically everywhere and are considered by most Finns as a necessity than a luxury.
In a country that is so rich in tradition sauna and lifestyle, it is inevitable that there is an accepted etiquette to sauna bathing, along with many customs that are uniquely Finnish. Let's take a closer look at what it means in real style sauna.
The process of Sauna
There is no right way to bathe in the sauna. The sauna process is varied and diverse as the people themselves, so beyond some basic guidelines is up to you to determine what process works best for you.
Shower - The first step is to take off her clothes and make a clean shower before entering the sauna. For new swimmers sometimes seems a bit 'silly - after all, are not going to get all sweaty in the sauna anyway? The purpose of the initial shower, though, is to purify your body to the ground so that the sauna is cleaner.
Sit - On entering the sauna, bathers experienced usually sit on a bench top, where the heat is more intense. It 'is perfectly acceptable, though, to select a lower bench if you prefer a lower temperature.
Soak up the heat - Once settled in, relax and let the heat saturate your body. Take even, relaxed breaths as the pores of bare skin and the sweat begins to flow. If you want to add some moisture to throw some water on the stones, but remember that the resulting steam to the air in the sauna feel even hotter. Some people like to move several times between the upper and lower benches, exploiting the temperature difference between the two levels.
The amount of time actually spent in the sauna depends on your preferences and experiences sauna. Those who are new to bathing may spend 5-10 minutes at a time, while others who are more accustomed to using the sauna can spend 20-25 minutes at a time. If at any time you feel weak, dizzy or nausea you should leave the sauna immediately.
Take a break, rinse and repeat - When you're ready for a break, step out of the sauna and cool. Many people like to take another shower, drink a bit 'of water, or otherwise update the relative cool of the dressing room. When you are ready for more heat simply step back into the sauna. You can repeat this process whenever you want, experts bathers often make three, four or more trips in the heat before leaving for the last time.
Shower and final cool down - When you are finally done with the sauna, take another shower to wash away the sweat and let cool completely. It should be cool and dry before dressing, and should follow the sauna with fluids to rehydrate yourself and maybe a meal if you are hungry.
What you need to take
In a conventional sauna, the most important thing you need to bring is time. The sauna is relaxing, and doing that good can not be rushed. Most people like to take a small towel in the sauna itself so they can stand on it and this helps to improve the hygiene of the sauna and also protects from benches that can be extremely hot. After finishing, you will probably like a soft bathrobe to wear while cooling down and some lotion to moisturize skin and prevent drying out.
Sauna Etiquette
Whether your local health club sauna or a trip to Finland for a truly authentic, there are some general rules of Finnish sauna etiquette should be followed:
• Shower first
Bench • Use a towel
• do not compete to see who can stay as long or endure the highest temperatures
• Relax, socialize, and enjoy the company of others
• Do not interpret the nude sauna as a sexual or erotic thing, because it is not
Finnish Sauna Customs
Finland has many unique sauna customs that have evolved over the centuries, the sauna as the role has become increasingly important for the Finnish way of life. In the days before hot water, the sauna was commonly used for bathing and cleansing the body. It is also often used as a place for women to give birth (it was not heated during the birth process) because it was clean and provided easy access to hot water.
families often sauna together, black clothing, all the way children are fully grown. If the sauna is located near a lake bathers may jump into the water to rinse and cool rather than doing the traditional shower. This is the case in both summer and winter, when it cut a hole in the ice to reach the cold water. If there is no lake or river at your fingertips so bathers also like to roll in the snow as a way to cool down between sessions in the sauna.
Another Finnish tradition is to take birch branches into the sauna, moisten them, and then gently whisk yourself to help open the pores even further. It may seem strange to think to yourself that strikes with birch branches, but is it really enhance and improve the whole sauna experience.
Business travelers going to Finland should be prepared for business contacts, even those who hardly know to extend an invitation to sauna. The idea of sitting naked in a sauna with almost unknown can be a little 'intimidating, but rest assured it is a normal part of Finnish culture. In fact, if you were to reject the invitation could be seen by some as a bit 'of an insult.
One of the biggest surprises that await many new sauna bathers, however, is the woman washing whose task is to soap, scrub and wash the bodies of swimmers. Not all Finnish saunas still use a woman washing machine, but it is not a common practice today.